Statement by the Office of Ecuador President Rafael Correa

Quito (Pichincha) – The president, Rafael Correa, who stands against a seditious attempt by some members of the National Police against the democratic and constitutional regime lead by the president, announced that despite attempts to attack the government and even him as a person, he would be unwavering with his principles.

“I'm not going to back down, if you want to come here and look for me, shoot me and the Republic will move forward, kill me, but as Pablo Neruda said, 'You can cut all the flowers but you cannot stop the Spring from coming,'” he told Radio Pública.

From the Police Hospital, where he came after being attacked during a visit to Quito Regiment # 1—after being hit by a tear gas canister—the president expressed his profound rejection of the actions taken by a sector of the police who hope to destabilize the regime based on their opposition to the vetoes announced to the Public Service Act.

According to the President, this attempt at destabilization is the result of a strategy that has been brewing for quite some time. A barrage of messages and misinformation have been given to the National Police, which today has been realized through violent actions from a conspiracy attempt.

“A while ago they came looking for a coup, because they can't win at the polls and there are compañerosof ours who do not understand that this is part of a political mission,” he said, in relation to the serious possibility of a “muerte cruzada”* with the National Congress.

He announced that he would return to Carondelet Palace when the security conditions allowed, as there is a possibility that the hospital was affected by this morning's actions.

*The constitutionally-granted power of the president to dissolve Congress and hold pending immediate elections, when there is a deadlocked Congress.